Comments on: “Speaking Truth to Power”

By: jonhenson

jonhenson — Thu, 23 Mar 2006 07:12:23 +0000

“With all due respect” is a tired, cliche phrase that always preceeds some offensive verbiage that the speaker thinks sounds sophisticated. What is wrong with these people? Do they believe that the listener is naive or just a simpleton?

In my experience, this vapid phrase is used by cocky politicians or presumptuous business person who want to sound well-bred. It is the opposite of polish; offensive, unimaginative, and an insult to anyone whom it is aimed it. It means, “you are a jackass and I am lowering myself in even addressing you.”

As soon as someone says it to you, I recommend a deaf ear. Or, of course, you can always break their knees!

By: Knucklehead

Knucklehead — Mon, 26 Sep 2005 14:55:42 +0000

As a big fan of the phrase, “with all due respect” I feel I must offer at least a tepid defense.

I use the phrase in two cases.

The first is the honest case where I feel it necessary to indicate that I have a level of honest respect for the person the phrase is directed to. That respect may be for their past record for quality output, their “rank”, or their expertise. It is intended to express my heartfelt respect to which the person is due. It is, of course, a signal that disagreement is about to be delivered.

The second case if far more fun though no less “honest”. In those cases the phrase is delivered as fair warning that I intend to attempt to demonstrate that whatever they said is due little or no respect at all.

The two uses are, to my knowledge, mutually exclusive. There is no danger that those deserving of the first usage will receive, instead, the second (or vice-versa).

By: richard mcenroe

richard mcenroe — Sun, 25 Sep 2005 21:28:46 +0000

“Liberals” differ from the “Left” in that they actually feel guilty about the piles of brown-skinned corpses that have piled up around the world as a result of their parlor pink affectations. They won’t actually abandon those affectations, but they’ll insist they’re not really “liberals” anymore, but “progressives.” (A convenient rule of thumb, liberals aren’t and progressives don’t.)

Leftists on the other hand, relish those piles of brown corpses as either a) something that can be blamed on their enemies or b) a necessary sacrifice for the ultimate triumph of the glorious struggle.

By: David [.net]

David [.net] — Sun, 25 Sep 2005 18:45:39 +0000

But if we don’t Speak Truth to Power, how can we Question Authority?

By: Beldar

Beldar — Sun, 25 Sep 2005 17:21:41 +0000

“With due respect” can be tweaked for more nuance. One of my favorites is “with due and genuine respect,” which is akin to “to be totally honest with you.”

By: BeckyJ

BeckyJ — Sun, 25 Sep 2005 16:59:03 +0000

My favorite is from my brother: “I take your point…” usually followed by “BUT, …”

By: smitty

smitty — Sun, 25 Sep 2005 15:29:35 +0000

At noon eastern time today on c-span is the pro America Rally by Move America Forward But you would not know this bt reading any of the blogs. The blogs on the right seem to be doing a very good job of ignoring Melanie Morgan and making sure no one hears of her efforts to support the troops. But the blogs on the right are doing an excellent job of covering the Anti American protests

By: kynna

kynna — Sun, 25 Sep 2005 15:25:36 +0000

“I have another one for her when she has the time – “With all due respect…” Whenever someone says that to me, I know they want to break my knees with a baseball bat.”

Whenever someone says that to me, I know I want to break THEIR knees with a baseball bat.

By: erp

erp — Sun, 25 Sep 2005 14:47:30 +0000

Neo-neocon differentiates liberals from the left, but didn’t supply a definition of each or how they differ.